Anti-pickpocket device



April 12, 1966 D. T. BLAKE 3,245,089

ANTI-*PICKPOCKET DEVICE Filed April 30, 1964 INVENTOR. DONALD 7.' BLAKE diam 7% A 7' TOR/VEYS United States Patent 3,245,089 ANTI-PICKPOCKET DEVICE Donald T. Blake, 1971 Glen Ave., San Bruno, Calif. Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 363,773 6 Claims. (Cl. 2-254) This invention relates to a warning device for use in combination with the pockets of clothing for foiling attempts by pickpockets to remove articles such as billfolds or wallets from such pockets without the knowledge of the clothing wearer.

Accomplished pickpockets are able to grasp an article such as a billfold within a victims pocket and remove it without creating any disturbing sensation so that the victim is completely unaware that he is being robbed.

The principal object of the present invention is to proyide a device for foiling the actions of pickpockets and to provide a warning to the victim before the theft can be completed.

Morespecifically, an object of the invention is to provide a theft warning device which may be permanently installed within the pockets of clothing as they are made, and which thereafter will function in combination with the pocket to removably engage and restrain a wallet or billfold placed in the pocket. When thus secured by my invention a wallet or, billfold cannot be withdrawn without being manipulated to remove the attached warning device. Any such attempt to withdraw and manipulate the billfold will causea noticeable sensation to the clothing wearer by an unusual or disturbing tension on the pocket, thus alerting the wearer to the theft attempt.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for foiling pickpockets that may be installed permanently in the pocket and yet which will not interfere with normal usage of the pocket nor cause any bulge therein that could be detected by an exterior observation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device that solves the problem of foiling pickpocketing, and which is strong, durable and yet particularly well adapted for ease and economy of manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description presented in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a typical suit coat pocket having a protective device embodying the principles of the invention, portions of the pocket are shown in dash lines to show details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation and in section showing a typical trouser pocket having the protective device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation and in section of a somewhat modified form of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation showing another modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is still another modified form of the invention.

While my invention could be applied with practically any type of pocket construction, it is particularly well adapted for use with the type of pocket comprising a separate sack or enclosure of fabric that extends from the pocket opening, as in the rear pockets of mens trousers where wallets or billfolds are commonly carried. Similar pocket constructions are utilized in the inside of suit coats and my invention would be equally applicable to these pockets as will be seen from the following description.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a typical pocket 10 installed on the inside of a suit coat designated by the numeral 11. In the conventional suit construc- "ice tion, the pocket 10, where billfolds are usually carried, would normally be the separate enclosure type rather than the patch type pocket, and all but its opening12 would be covered by the inner lining 13 of the suit. However, to illustrate the features of my invention, portions of the pocket 10 are shown in dash lines.

In combination with pocket 10 is an elastic cord member 14 which is securely anchored in a suitable manner to the pocket 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the cord member 14 is attached at one end 15 near the upper end of the pocket 10 near one of its side seams 16. The other end 17 of the cord 14 is fixed near the lower end of the pocket and near its other side seam 18. The ends 15 and 17 of the cord 14 may be attached to the pocket fabric in any suitable manner such as by a repetitive cross stitch using thread extending through or across the cord. The cord ends could also be anchored by a crimped metal clip of the well known type. If installed when the pockets are made, the cord 14 could also be anchored in the seam which connects the pocket walls, as shown in FIG. 2. It'should be understood that the invention is not limited by any particular means for anchoring the ends of the cord 14 except as set forth in the appended claims.

When initially installed the cord 14 is under no tension, but it should not be so loose between its anchored end portions that a loop of intermediate cord will be visible above the opening of the pocket. As stated above, the cord 14 is made of an elastic material that will provide the required strength, durability and elasticity with a minimum cross section. I have found that a woven plastic material comprising strands of a long-chain of synthetic polymer and preferably having at least segmented polyurethane is particularly adaptable for use as the restraining cord 14 since it fulfills all of the aforesaid requirements and is also completely unaffected by repeated washing or cleaning of the garment having the invention. Such a plastic material is commercially available and is manufactured by the du Pont Company under the trademark Lycra. Preferably, the cord 14 is installed when the pocket 10 is itself manufactured for subsequent installation in suit coats or trousers, and in this way the cord can be of the proper length and well anchored in place.

When my invention is installed, and the wearer wishes to placehis billfold in his pocket, the cord 14 is first pulled and stretched outwardly from the pocket opening 12 and is slipped over the end of the billfold and between the folded portions thereof. FIG, 1 shows a typical book type wallet or billfold 19 already secured within an inner suit pocket ltlwith the billfold partially removed to indicate the resulting tension on the cord 14. When the billfold is withdrawn upwardly from the pocket it i restrained by the .cord 14.and the ends 15 and 17 of the cord 14 create a disturbing tension on the pocket walls. Thus, if a pickpocket grasps the wallet and pulls it upward the resulting strain on the cord will immediately alert the owner. Yet, for normal removal of the billfold by the owner the cord 14 is easily stretched and slipped over the end of the billfold as it is manipulated to free it from the pocket.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a somewhat different arrangement of the invention particularly adaptable for use in combination with a trouser pocket 20. In this embodiment, an elastic cord 21 is anchored at its ends 22 and 23 on opposite sides of the pocket 20, and at approximately the same level so that the cord 21 extends substantially horizontally across the pocket. The type of billfold designated by the numeral 24, which adapted to fit in such trouser pockets, is shaped so that its hinge area 25 extends generally horizontally when in the pocket. Thus, in the arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3, when the wearer places the billfold 24 in his pocket the cord 21 is merely pulled and stretched outwardly and looped over one end of the billfold to lie between its two folded portions as it is pushed further into the pocket. Again, if an attempt is made by a pickpocket to remove the billfold, the cord 21 interferes and restrains it, and the resultant cord tension immediately alerts the owner of the attempted theft. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 the ends 22 and 23 of the cord 21 are secured within the seams of the pocket walls.

In FIG. 4 is shown another modified version of the invention wherein a pocket 28 is provided with an elastic cord 29 which is anchored approximately at the bottom seam 30 of the pocket. Here, the cord 29 is firmly anchored at its ends 31 and 32 but more slack in the cord is provided so that it can be easily looped around a billfold 33 when the latter is placed in the pocket 28. It is apparent that for hip pockets in trousers the cord extending generally horizontally can be placed at any desired level in the pocket from its bottom end, as shown in FIG. 4, to the upper end near the pocket opening. In all instances the restraining cord is secured to the pocket walls or in the seams connecting the walls, and except when being stretched, it never appears above the pocket opening.

Further embodiments of my invention are shown in FIGS. and 6, both of which utilize two cord members. In a pocket 35, shown in FIG. 5, a pair of cord members 36 and 37 are each connected at one of their ends to the pocket near the upper end of the pocket, and they cross while extending to opposite corners of the pocket at its lower end. In use, either one or both of the cords 36 and 37 can be utilized to secure a billfold in place and thereby prevent its theft. The provision of the two cords 36 and 37 thus eases somewhat the amount of manipulation of the billfold when it is being placed in the pocket. Thus in FIG. 5, the cord 36 is shown in use but if the billfold were turned around, the cord 37 could be utilized.

FIG. 6 shows a pocket 40 wherein two elastic cords 41 and 42 are provided which extend substantially vertically the length of the pocket from near the opening 43 to the bottom seam 44. This two cord arrangement provides the same type of versatility that is available with the embodiment of FIG. 5.

All of the embodiments of the invention solve the problem of preventing pickpocket thefts from clothing while it is being worn without the wearers knowledge. My invention provides a solution to this problem which is easy and economical to manufacture in combination with other components of the pocket and yet which is easy to use and highly eifective.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit-and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the descrip tion herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. In an article of clothing a theft foiling device comprising in combination a pocket for releasably retaining a billfold and having adjacent generally rectangular shaped side walls of fabric material connected together along all but one side which forms a pocket opening, a pair of cord members of elastic material normally confined complete 4 1y within said pocket within said pocket Walls, said cord members having end portions anchored to at least one of said pocket walls and extending from locations near the pocket opening to locations near the bottom of the pocket.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein each of said cords extend from one side of the pocket near the pocket opening to the opposite side of the pocket near its bottom, whereby the cords cross each other within the pocket.

3. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said cords are substantially parallel with each other.

4. In an article of clothing a theft foiling device comprising in combination a pocket for releasably retaining a billfold and having adjacent generally rectangular shaped side walls of fabric material, said side walls being connected together along all but one side which thereby forms a pocket opening, a cord member of elastic material normally confined within said pocket between said pocket walls, said cord member having end portions anchored near opposite sides and at the bottom of said pocket, the portion of cord between said anchored end portions being adapted to loop over a billfold when it is within the pocket.

5. In an article of clothing a theft foiling device comprising in combination a pocket for releasably retaining a billfold and having adjacent generally rectangular shaped side walls of fabric material, said side walls being connected together along all but one side which thereby forms a pocket opening, a cord member of elastic material normally confined within said pocket between said pocket walls, said cord member having end portions one of which is anchored near the pocket opening and the other of which is anchored near the bottom of the pocket, the portion of cord between said anchored end portions being adapted to loop over a billfold when it is within the pocket.

6. In an article of clothing a theft foiling device comprising in combination a pocket for releasably retaining a billfold and having adjacent generally rectangular shaped side walls of fabric material, said side walls being con nected together along all but one side which thereby forms a pocket opening, a cord member of elastic material normally confined within said pocket between said pocket walls, said cord member having end portions both of which are anchored to at least one of said pocket walls, said cord member extending diagonally across said pocket from a location near its opening to a location near its bottom, the portion of cord between said anchored end portions being adapted to loop over a. billfold when it is within the pocket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 57,072 8/1866 Bell 2250 361,583 4/1887 Fleming 2250 X 530,542 12/1894 Mahon 2252 610,513 9/1898 Broad 2-252 1,496,330 6/1924 Tollefson 225Q JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING A THEFT FOILING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A POCKET FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING A BILLFOLD AND HAVING ADJACENT GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPED SIDE WALLS OF FABRIC MATERIAL CONNECTED TOGETHER ALONG ALL BUT ONE SIDE WHICH FORMS A POCKET OPENING, A PAIR OF CORD MEMBERS OF ELASTIC MATERIAL NORMALLY CONFINED COMPLETELY WITHIN SAID POCKET WITHIN SAID POCKET WALLS, SAID CORD MEMBERS HAVING END PORTIONS ANCHORED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID POCKET WALLS AND EXTENDING FROM LOCATIONS NEAR THE POCKET OPENING TO LOCATIONS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE POCKET. 